Footwear



Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOTWEAR Peter H. Margulis, New York, N. Y. Application January 24, 1945, Serial No. 574,253

6 Claims. (C1. 36-50) This invention relates to footwear in which term it is intended to include boots, shoes, oxfords, and other footwear for men, women and children. 1

The invention has for its salient object to so construct an article of footwear that it can be readily adjusted to comfortably fit the foot and leg of the wearer and, moreover, to readily t various measurements of insteps, ankles and calves.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the character described so constructed and arranged that it will present a neat, form tting and attractive appearance on the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear so constructed that it can be easily and quickly put on and taken off.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear of the character described so constructed that it will be adapted for many uses, such as business, dress, or work purposes, and also so constructed that it is particularly adapted for use in the armed services.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of two connected blanks used in forming the boot shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing another blank used in making the boot shown in Fig, 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing a slight modication of the construction shown in Fig. 1 and also illustrating the boot as open for the reception of the foot of the wearer; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a different type of boot or shoe embodying the invention and particularly adapted'for the armed services.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is shown a boot particularly adapted for hunting, riding, or general outdoor work or recreation. This boot may be constructed of various materials but is preferably made of leather or, if desired, of rubber, and comprises a vamp V, counter C, and the upper U.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, a portion of the upper U comprises two parts, a flap I0 and a complementary section II, which are connected together at the back I2 and may, ifdesired, be reinforced by a strip I3.

The flap or portion I6 is provided with concave portions I4 and I5 and with rounded projecting portions i6 and I'I. The flap I6 also has a notch I8 at the upper end of the portion IS which forms a part oi the vamp V.

The lower portion of section II of the upper has a projection 2U which forms a notch ZI having a substantially vertical edge 22.

The vamp V is formed partially by a portion I9 of the lower end of the upper U and partially by a corresponding and complementary portion 25 of a section 2B. The upper end portion 21 of section 26 is secured by stitching or cementing to the lower edge portion 26 of the ap IIJ and is also secured along an edge portion 29 to the vertical edge 22 of the part Il. The edge 23 of the section 26 is also stitched or otherwise secured to the edge 24 of the part I9. The lower edge of the bottom end of the ap I0 and upper edge of the part 26 form a rounded projecting portion 33 corresponding to portions I6 and Il.

Particular attention is directed to a forwardly and downwardly inclined notch 30 formed in the section 26 at the instep covering portion or entrance to the shoe or boot. This notch is designed for the purpose of providing a wide opening at the instep covering portion when the flap I6 is folded back, as shown in Fig. 4, to facilitate the insertion of the foot in the shoe or boot. Moreover, this construction provides a neat adjustment on the ankle and instep where the foot exes.

The notch 30 in the section 26 may, if desired, be reinforced by stitching, as shown at 32, or by cementing. The section or flap IB and connected part 26, which forms a unitary nap,

are secured to the part I I by means of straps and buckles.

As shown in Figs. l and 4, the heel 36 and sole 36 are secured to the boot in any desired well known manner.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a strap 46 which is secured to the back of the boot or on the counter C adjacent the heel and encircles the instep and is carried around to the back of the boot and through opening 4I in the back strip I3.V A buckle 42 is engaged by a strap 43 secured to the flap I6, thus tightening the boot and closing the flap to cause a neat and attractive iit. It will be noted that the strap 40 passes over the flap 44 above the notch 30 and insures the closing of this ilap.

The projecting portions I6 and I'I have secured thereto straps 45 and 46 which coact with buckles 41 and 48 to close the flap I9 and close the boot to t neatly and closely around the calf of the wearer.

In Fig. 4 three straps 50, 5I and 52 are secured to projecting portions 53, 54 and 55 of the ap and these straps coact with buckles 56, 51 and 58 to close the flap and cause the boot to fit closely and neatly around the leg of the wearer.

Fig. 5 illustrates a slightly modified form of construction in that the invention is applied to a low boot instead of a high boot, as in the preceding figures. In this construction the notch 69 corresponds to and performs the function of the notch 30 illustrated in the preceding figures. Furthermore, the strap 6| encircles the instep in the manner similar to the strap 40 and is provided with a buckle 62 which is engaged -by a strap 63 secured to the ap 64.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that because of a wide opening permitted by the notch at the instep covering portion, the boot can be very easily put on and taken oil and, furthermore, because of the particular strap securing means, the boot can be readily adjusted to t various measurements of insteps, ankles and calves to provide a neat, form fitting appearance.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An article of footwear including an upper adapted to enclose the instep of the wearer, said upper including a flap extending from the instep covering portion of the article to its top and adapted to overlie the other side of the upper, the lower end of the flap and adjacent portion of the article being separated from each other by a relatively narrow elongated notch and extending forwardly and downwardly, one wall of the notch being anchored and the other Wall of the notch constituting the free edge of the flap and movable relative to the anchored wall of the notch.

2. An article of footwear including an upper adapted to enclose the instep and at least a portion of the ankle of the wearer, said upper including a flap extending from the instep covering portion of the article to its top and adapted to overlie the other side of the upper, the edge of the flap being undulated to provide spaced projections, the lower end of the flap and adjacent portion of the article being separated from each other by a relatively narrow elongated notch below the lowest projection and extending forwardly and downwardly, one wall of the notch being anchored and the other wall of the notch constituting the free edge of the flap and movable relative to the anchored wall of the notch.

3. An article of footwear including an upper adapted to enclose the instep and at least a, portion of the ankle of the wearer, said upper including a flap extending from the instep covering portion of the article to its top and adapted to overlie the other side of the upper, the edge of the flap being undulated to provide spaced projections, the lower end of the flap and adjacent portion of the article being separated from each other by a relatively narrow elongated notch below the lowest projection and extending forwardly and downwardly, one wall of the notch being anchored and the other wall of the notch constituting the free edge of the flap and movable relative to the anchored wall of the notch, and means including a strap to anchor the flap extending across the projection of the flap adjacent said notch.

4. An article of footwear including an upper adapted to enclose the instep and at least a portion of the ankle of the wearer, said upper includ,-

ing a iiap extending from the instep covering; portionof the article to its top and adapted toy overlie the other side of the upper, the edge of' the flap being undulated to provide spaced projections, the lower end of the nap and adjacent portion of the article being separated from each other` by a relatively narrow elongated notch below the lowest projection and extending forwardly and downwardly, one wall of the notch being anchored and the other wall of the notch constituting the free edge of the flap and movable relative to the anchored wall of the notch, and means for retaining the undulated edge of the iiap in overlying closed relation to the other side of the upper including a series of straps, all of said straps respectively passing over said projections and being unattaohedthereto whereby limited movement of the iiap is permitted when the footwear is in use.

5. A form fitting article of footwear including an upper to enclose the instep and at least a portion of the ankle of the wearer, a flap secured to one side of the upper and having an undulating edge extending from the throat of the article to its top and adapted to overlap the other side along a side of the ankle, straps secured to said flap and upper and adapted to encircle the ankle of the wearer and extend across the instep, and means to maintain said straps across the projections on the said undulating edge whereby in tightening the straps the stress is applied across said proj ectionsand across the instep to maintain the ap in close non-bulging contact with the other side of the upper and to neatly conform the upper to the foot and ankle of the wearer.

6. In a form fitting adjustable article of footwear,.an upper, a flap having an undulating side edge on one side of the upper to overlie a portion of the opposite side of the upper, the lower edge of said flap extending along and being secured to the top edge of the vamp in permanently overlapping relation to the lower portion of said opposite side to bias said flap and undulating edge toward said opposite side of the upper, whereby said ilap and undulating edge automatically fall rearwardly upon said opposite side of the upper, a strap secured to said opposite side of the upper adjacent its bottom, a second strap secured to the nap adjacent its top, and means on said strap for joining their free ends with the said straps disposed across projections on said undulating edge when they encircle said article to prevent the :nap from bulging.

PETER H. MARGULIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of i this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,338 Golden et al Apr. 30, 1940 200,818 Bond Mar. 5, 1878 1,464,981 McNulty Aug. 14, 1923 1,328,333 Mann Jan. 20, 1920 1,223,804 Larson Apr. 24, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,150 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1892 19,529 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1899 14,548 Italy 14,356 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1885 

